Commonplace books are a little like personalized encyclopedias: places to write down tidbits of knowledge gleaned from the world, like aphorisms, lines of verse, lyrics or memorable movie quotes; they might also include recipes, prayers, portraits, mathematical formulas, maps or anything else useful and easily forgotten. Unlike journals or diaries, these notes are not usually the owner’s original thoughts, and thus offer a different kind of window into their mind. In these pages are things perhaps even more intimate than This story is from Kinfolk Issue Forty-Nine Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Design Issue 48 Object Matters A material history of the tote bag. Arts & Culture Issue 46 Object Matters An unperfumed history of the scented candle. Arts & Culture Issue 45 Object Matters A curious history of novelty objects. Arts & Culture Issue 43 The Science of Fiction How Amazon is rewriting the novel. Arts & Culture Issue 43 Object Matters A fuzzy history of the carpet. Arts & Culture Issue 42 Object Matters A modest history of the codpiece.
